Paper feeding mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet I.

E. DU1VIMBB, PAPER FEEDING MECHANISM.

Patented A'p1 .3, 1894.

LAWN a s v z aw,

WAX, 11,.

2 Sheets-Sheet2.

(No Model.)

B. DUMMER. PAPER FEEDING MEGJHANISM.

Patented Apr. -3, 1894. v

I Rs. 5.

' Ma gi 7 burndale,

I UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

: EDWARD DU'M ERgoF AUBURNDALE, MASSACHUSETTS.

PAPEFSI-FEEDING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,518, dated. April 3, 189 4.

Appllcetion'filed August 1, 1892.

To aZZ whom it m mam;

Be it known that I, EDWARD DUMMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Au- State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Paper-Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. I

My invention relates to mechanism for feeding sheets of paper, individually, from a pile or bank of sheets, to a printing or other machine, the objeet of theinvention being-to pro vide for acontinuous supply and presentation of tliepile or bank to the device or instrument for removing each sheet from the pile or bank.

In the drawings two sheets, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of so much of a paper-feeder embodying my invention as is sufiicient for illustration of the same. Fig. 2 shows a plan, and Fig. 3 a side view, of certain parts of the feeder.

The board A may be the feed-board'of a printing machine, onto which is delivered, by means of a cylinder B and roller 0 each sheet of paper, the'sheet having been seized at its edge by means of an instrument a calleda finger, and removed from abank of sheets by said cylinder and roller, as explained in' Patent No. 414,147, granted tome October 29, 1889.

The frame of the feeder is represented as fastened to the feed-board A. by means of bolts b, and composed of parallel side pieces D held in suitable relation to each other by trans'verserods c. Having bearings supported by the frame is a shaftd on whichis secured a drum E. Parallel to this drum are rollers F, F, F, and G, as many as may be deemed desirable. Parallel with the drum is a shaft e, having rollers or pulleys Hthereon.

This shaft has bearingsf at the-rear of a stationary support or table I, whichtable is, preferably, horizontal. Extending around each pulley H and the rollers F, G, is an endless band J, which will also extend over the upper surface of the table I and as near to that surface as practicable, and bear against the drum E, or against that part of the bank of paper K between the band and thedrum. Held by the rods 0 are stationaryv strips L in the county of Middlese'x and' Serial 110.441.2365. on. model.)

provided with bows 9, thus forming a'sup port having a curved portion. There are rollem or' pulleys M on a shaft h,'a1so parallel with the drum E. An endless band N ex-' tends between the bows g around each of the pulleys M andthe drum E, the upper part of the band being about'on a level with the upper surface of the straight parts'of the strips "L; A roller 0 has journals each of which is in a slot in a stand which is adjustable at side of the frame. Each of the rollers F, G has journals in slots whereby the rollers may move toward or away from the drum 'E. Each ofthe bearings ffor the shaft e is a block so supported and guidedthat this shaft and the pulleys thereon may move toward or away from the drum E., the block being pressed to move the pulleys in: the latter direction by a springj. The shaft -h hasmov able bearings 70, and there are springs Z whereby the slack of the band'N is taken up.

In operatioma pile or bank of paper is first formed so that the edge of each sheet will project beyond the corresponding edge of the adjacent sheet. This may be clone by ma-. nipulating the bank in a mannerwell understood by those skilled in the art. The bank isthen laid on the table I and bands J. The drum E being ,revolved, the bank is wound partially around the drum, since it is pinched by and between these bands and the drum. Another bank is prepared and laid upon the bevel of the first bank, and on the table and 85 bands, and the drum revolved, and so on till the outer edge of the first or outer sheet is brought within range of the finger a. Thus the bank extends onthe table I around the drum E-ai1d on the strips L and bands 0 N. The feeder being new set in motion, that is, the cylinder B and roller 0, as by means of a crank m, the drum Ewill be revolved, as required for movement of the bank to bring the sheets successively within range of 5 the finger a,by means of a leverP, cam n on the shaft of the roller 0, ratchet-wheel Q on the shaft of the drum E, and pawl o pivoted to the lever. This leverhas an adjustable pivot 1) so that the motion of the drum mo and hence of the bank may be gaged. At suitable and convenient intervals during the operation of the feeder, and, therefore, during the operation of the printing or other machine fed thereby, banks ofpaperinay be laid on the table I to joinand move with the bank being moved as above described. Thus neither the feeder nor the printing or other machine need be stopped in order to supply paper thereto but the action maybe continuous and uninterrupted. The springs 3' provide for movement of the rollers F, G, to and from the drum E, that is, for diflferent thicknesses of the bank, while causing sufficient pressure by the bands J on the bank that it will be carried by the drum and bands when the drum is revolved as above set forth. The bands N will also aid in causing the required motion of the bank,while partially supporting that part of the bank over the strips L. The roller G serves a double purpose. Not-only are the bands J maintained in posi- 'tion thereby with reference to the drum, but

it also counteracts any curvature made in the support onto the strips L or upper support, so

that the under-sheet of the bank on the table becomes the upper-sheet of thebank on the strips." Hence a bank may be simply laid on the table I as a continuation of the bank already thereon at one end, while the sheets are being removed from the other end of the bank, such removal being readily done since each sheet is taken from the top or outer-part of the bank. Furthermore, by providing for a long continuous bank, the distance which each sheet projects beyond the adjacent sheet,

or the offset, so called, may be great and yet there be a large quantity of paper in the feeder. Owing to the degree of ofiset which may thus be obtained, each sheet may be brought into position to be grasped by any suitable instrument other than the finger shown. I

The main office of the roller 0 is to prevent the slippingback of theuppcr sheet or sheets, particularly when the upper sheetis under pressure by the fin ger, or other instrument, this roller being adjusted, according to the length of the sheets, so that revolving, on

movement of the bank, by friction against the.

bank, it will always hear on the bank at or near the edge of the uppermost sheet.

'lhough tnebands J, together with the shaft 0 and pulleys M, were dispensed with the bank would be carried around the drum E by means of this drum and the rollers F, G, around the drum, located as shownprovided the bank be entered between the drum and-aroller. The bands are desirable, however, since a greater quantity of paper may be placed in the machine at one time and the paper m y be supplied at times when most convenient for the operator. The bands N might, in certain cases, also be of such material and of suflicient number as to serve the purpose of the table I so that the latter might be dispensed with. So also the paper opera ated upon might be such that the bands N would not be necessary, since the bank would be pushed along the strips by action of the drunrand rollers therean. 4

I claim as my inventiona 1. In a'paper-feeder the combination of an upper and alower support for a bank. ofpaper, a drum in suitable position with reference to the supports, and rollers parallel to the drum, whereby on revolution of drum and rollers the bank will be carried around said drum from the lower to the upper support, said feeder being open at the rear above the lower supportwhereby paper may be placed on ps per in the machine while in operation to effect,

continuous feeding, substantially as set forth,

2. In a paper-feeder the combinationof an upper and a lower support for a bank of paper, a drum, rollers parallel to'the drum,-and

a bandextending about said rollers, the o y sition of said supports, rollers and band w th rcferenceto each other being substantially as specified, whereby on revolution of drum and rollers the bankwill be taken from the lowersupport and carried'aroundsaid drum onto the upper supporh'the machine being open at the rear between said supports whereby paper may be placed on paper in the ma- ;chine while in operation to effect continuous the upper support, the upper support being.

curved, substantially as set forth.

4. In a paper-feeder the combination of a drum, rollers parallel to said drum, a band ex- ICO IIO

tending around said rollers, and an upper and I v a lower support for paper, said drum, rollers and supports being in such relation to each other that paper will be carried from the lower onto the upper support on revolution of the drum, the upper support being curved,'substantially asset forth.

5.. In a paper-feeder in combination with mechanism for removing a sheet from a bank of paper, an upper curved support, a lower support for said bank, a drum and rollers parallel with each other, and a bandextenrb ing about said rollers, said drum rollers and band being in suitable relation to each other tfio dreverse the bank, substantially as speci- 6'. In a paper-feeder the combination with mechanism for removing the uppers'heet of a bank of paper by friction on the edge-face of the sheet and lifting the sheet from the bank, and with mechanism for supporting and conveying said bank, of a roller to bear on I said bank at or near the opposite edge of said sheet to prevent the slipping of the sheet, substantialiy as specified.

7. In a paper-feeder the combination with mechanism for removing the upper sheet of a bank of paper by friction on the edge-face off the sheet and lifting the sheet fr om the bank, and with mechanism for supporting and conveying said bank of a roller to bear on said bank and roll on the bank on move- I0 ment of the bank, said roller being adj ustabie whereby it may be secured in posit on at or near the edge of said sheet, substantially as specified.

. z EDWARD DUMMER. Witnesses:

EDWARD WYMAN, WALTER-S. HILL. 

